Jackie Sherrill

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT JACKIE SHERRILL - PAGE 5

Florida State coach Bobby Bowden has decided to withdraw his name from consideration for the University of Alabama`s football coaching position. Bowden will meet with FSU President Dr. Bernard Sliger this morning to inform him of his decision. "I called Hootie (athletic director C.W. "Hootie" Ingram) about 11 o`clock and told him that I had decided not to pursue the situation," Bowden said. "Actually, I didn`t withdraw because I was never officially a candidate. I`m relieved it`s over."

It has been Dave Wannstedt`s lot in life to excel in roles where the spotlight never lingers. Whether he was throwing a block for an All-American or designing a new blitz for one of the nation`s best defenses, Wannstedt has worked in the shadows. He has passionately gone about the business of winning with little concern for who gets the credit. As an offensive tackle at the University of Pittsburgh, Wannstedt opened holes for Tony Dorsett. Fourteen years later, he`s still in the trenches.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Alabama coach Ray Perkins has agreed to become coach, general manager and vice president of operations for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Neither Perkins nor Bucs owner Hugh Culverhouse would confirm an agreement Tuesday, but sources within the NFL and at the University of Alabama indicated that the decision would be announced today in news conferences in Tuscaloosa and Tampa. All of Alabama`s assistants, who are on the road recruiting, have been told to return to Tuscaloosa and will meet with Perkins at 9 a.m. before a press conference at 10. Perkins replaces Leeman Bennett, who was fired Monday after posting a 4-28 record with the Bucs in two seasons.

Most schools hire coaches because of their ability to win. There was a bigger reason in Brigham Young's thinking when it chose Gary Crowton to replace LaVell Edwards. Crowton, 43, is the right fit. He's a Mormon. He has six children, and after years of traveling as a coach, he was ready to settle down. "This is a good environment," said Crowton, who was head coach at Louisiana Tech (1996-98) but was most recently the offensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears, "and there is a chance to be successful."

One will pace the sideline Knute Rockne once roamed. The other will follow a path burned by Paul "Bear" Bryant. They have never even been head coaches, but Bob Davie and Mike DuBose are taking over at Notre Dame and Alabama, home to college football's most hallowed traditions and legendary coaches. Davie will make his debut under the Golden Dome when Notre Dame hosts Georgia Tech on Sept. 6. DuBose begins his reign in Birmingham when Alabama hosts Houston on Saturday. In Notre Dame's storied history, no assistant coach was elevated to the head coach's job. Not until Davie was named the 26th coach late last fall.

LOS ANGELES -- Snap thoughts while waiting for Notre Dame to play Southern Cal Saturday: Miami, regardless of the polls, is the best team in the country. And Southern Cal is not far behind. The Hurricanes and Trojans are the most complete teams in the country and they should be playing for the national championship. And wouldn`t Steve Walsh against Rodney Peete be a treat? Would Notre Dame be 10-0 if it had not played seven home games for the first time in history? If USC defeats Notre Dame, the likely top 4 will play in four different bowls -- USC (Rose)

GAINESVILLE -- The Southeastern Conference marches into unchartered territory this fall with a healthy measure of trepidation. Although the expanded conference and SEC championship game between the winners of the two divisions have created a great deal of excitement, there is concern among the coaches that the new format will prevent SEC teams from competing for the national championship. "It`s going to be awfully difficult," LSU coach Curley Hallman said. "A 13-game schedule... that`s a long, tough road."

Howard Schnellenberger`s goal (dream?) is to become the first coach to win national championships at two schools. The man who brought Miami to prominence took a big step at Louisville in his sixth season last year when he guided the Cardinals to a 10-1-1 record and a roll-it-up 34-7 victory over Alabama in the misbegotten Fiesta Bowl. That all seems to be forgotten, though, as Louisville went unranked in the preseason polls. The Cardinals (1-0 after beating Eastern Kentucky) can get some instant respect with a victory over No. 11 Tennessee Thursday.

Previews in predicted order of finish by Staff Writer Randall Mell, August 28, 1998

LSU Tigers * LAST SEASON: 9-3 (6-2 SEC West), defeated Notre Dame 27-9 in the Independence Bowl. * COACH: Gerry DiNardo, (26-9-1 at LSU, 45-34-1 overall). * RETURNING STARTERS: Nine on offense, seven on defense. * OUTLOOK: TB Cecil Collins was booted off the team, but the Tigers are still loaded in the backfield with Heisman Trophy candidate Kevin Faulk leading the way. The Tigers led the SEC in rushing a year ago, and with a talented front ought to repeat this year. LSU tied for the West title in '97, but the team's poised to move up in class and win the SEC title.

-- LAST SEASON: 10-2 (6-2 SEC), defeated Clemson 10-7 in Peach Bowl. -- COACH: Gerry DiNardo (17-6-1 at LSU, 36-31-1 overall). -- OUTLOOK: With 18 starters back (nine on offense and nine on defense), the Tigers are poised to step up to the championship level. They've got a Heisman hopeful (Kevin Faulk) and lots of other reasons to continue to build on DiNardo's energy. The Tigers were 7-4 and 10-2 in DiNardo's first two seasons. They still need to prove themselves, however, against the SEC's best.